蘑菇AV

The news: Snap announced its sixth-generation AR smart glasses at the 2025 Augmented World Expo (AWE). The wearables will be available to the public for the first time since 2016, potentially unlocking a new revenue stream beyond ads. The lightweight consumer smart glasses, called Specs, will launch in 2026 and include an 鈥渦ltra-powerful wearable computer.鈥� Our take: Snap鈥檚 next-gen smart glasses could diversify its revenue streams and show off its AR prowess. But unless the price tag is affordable and competitive, users may continue to just use Snapchat鈥檚 AR filters on their phones.

The news: Google鈥檚 search dominance is slipping as AI innovations threaten its ad business. Its global web visits declined 1% YoY in April, according to Similarweb data published by AdWeek, compared with 182% growth for OpenAI鈥檚 ChatGPT and 181% for Perplexity. Google鈥檚 searches on Safari also dropped for the first time ever in April. In March, about 77% of all Google searches that triggered an AI Overview garnered zero clicks, which could dissuade advertisers from spending on the platform. Our take: As AI transforms search and keywords become less important, publishers and brands may need to rethink strategies for how their content is discovered and how they attract search users. AI-optimized content will likely become the next battleground for visibility and performance.

The news: President Donald Trump is expected to sign another executive order extending TikTok鈥檚 sale deadline as the current June 19 deadline approaches, marking the third extension since Trump took office. Our take: Trump is likely to continue extending TikTok鈥檚 sale deadline鈥攂ut with each extension, brand confidence plummets further as the platform鈥檚 long term sustainability remains shrouded in uncertainty. The brands that will be most successful aren鈥檛 those that are crossing their fingers for TikTok鈥檚 survival, but those that are investing in contingency plans and platform-agnostic strategies that can pivot quickly.

The news: Roblox鈥檚 lack of third-party measurement tools is becoming a hurdle for advertisers. The platform has minimal independent insights into standard metrics like reach and performance outcomes, per Digiday. As a result, potential customers are hesitant to start investing in ads on Roblox, which could dampen company growth. Our take: Roblox commands enormous engagement, especially with younger users, and it has a wealth of assets to attract advertisers and bolster its revenue. However, without accessible measurement offerings that meet industry standards, Roblox鈥檚 growth as a major ad channel may remain limited.

Tools like Smart+ and Content Suite help brands find trending creator content, predict ad success, and target more precisely.

FTC investigates ad groups, watchdogs over alleged boycott: Advertisers must navigate a landscape where protecting brand image could carry legal risks.

Facetune, the photo editing app from Lightricks, has expanded from digital screens into the physical world with its first out-of-home (OOH) ad campaign in the US.

e at last: Microsoft鈥檚 update kills default Edge and Bing prompts, giving rivals room to breathe鈥攁nd forcing marketers to rethink how they reach EU users.

TikTok shifts away from free traffic for US merchants: The change will require businesses to pay for ads for visibility, but TikTok remains a critical touchpoint.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss how Google embedding an AI chatbot into search changes things, why Anthropic鈥檚 Claude API could reshape search, and why tech companies might not be the winners of the AI search war. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Senior Analyst鈥檚 Gadjo Sevilla and Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

The news: YouTube unveiled Open Call at Cannes Lions 2025, a new platform-native feature allowing advertisers to post campaign briefs that monetized creators can directly respond to with self-produced content. The initiative removes the need for traditional influencer matchmaking, giving brands centralized control over content submissions, approvals, and performance via Google Ads. Our take: As costs rise and brand safety concerns mount, Open Call could tilt the branded content ecosystem in favor of marketers. It simplifies creator discovery, improves ROI measurement, and could lead to longer-term omnichannel partnerships. YouTube鈥檚 move positions it as a central hub for scalable, data-informed influencer marketing.

The news: YouTube unveiled Open Call at Cannes Lions 2025, a new platform-native feature allowing advertisers to post campaign briefs that monetized creators can directly respond to with self-produced content. The initiative removes the need for traditional influencer matchmaking, giving brands centralized control over content submissions, approvals, and performance via Google Ads. Our take: As costs rise and brand safety concerns mount, Open Call could tilt the branded content ecosystem in favor of marketers. It simplifies creator discovery, improves ROI measurement, and could lead to longer-term omnichannel partnerships. YouTube鈥檚 move positions it as a central hub for scalable, data-informed influencer marketing.

Senate leader questions pharma advertising oversight amid growing calls for more regulation: The threats of new legislation and regulations indicate the seriousness of both the Trump administration and Congress to move against pharma ads.

Prime Video offers show-level ad reporting: The move positions it as a testing ground for streaming鈥檚 evolution, where transparency matters as much as viewer data.

The news: Brazil鈥檚 Supreme Court ruled that social media platforms must be held accountable for illegal user-generated content (UGC), marking a major shift in digital regulation, per Reuters. Six of 11 justices backed fines for non-removal, putting the pressure on platforms to police their content. The decision to place accountability on platform owners could undermine the business and advertising strategies of Meta, YouTube, X, and TikTok. Key takeaway: When governments crack down on platforms, ad environments change fast. If Brazil鈥檚 ruling becomes the norm, social platforms may shift from open forums to tightly controlled spaces鈥攔isking user engagement, discoverability, algorithmic reach, and ad effectiveness.

In our first edition of the Global Digital Index, created in partnership with the RLC Global Forum, we explore retail and ecommerce in the Gulf States of the Middle East.

Netflix and BBC team up for new podcast: While Netflix teases video podcasts on its own platform, work needs to be done to win over audiences.

On today鈥檚 podcast episode, we discuss how much the merger with xAI can move the needle for X, if the social platform can recoup the kinds of ad dollars it was making before Elon Musk bought them, and where X users have migrated to (if anywhere). Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Analysts Marisa Jones and Emmy Liederman. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Meta's antitrust trial over Instagram and WhatsApp deals winds down: But the trial鈥檚 outcome could reshape tech M&A for years to come.

Google is monetizing AI search interfaces aggressively: But users, advertisers, and publishers remain skeptical of trust, data, and fairness.

Meta鈥檚 鈥榚pidemic of scams鈥� is only worsening: As platforms fail to combat ad fraud, advertisers must be proactive to protect investments.

Reddit鈥檚 Dynamic Product Ads expands to all advertisers: The move highlights Reddit鈥檚 shift from a supplemental channel to a primary platform for advertisers.

Google expands ads into AI Mode: But marketers lack visibility into performance as analytics gaps persist.